The government’s plan to start grading Nepalicement brands on the basis of their quality has been delayed following a spatbetween the government and cement manufacturers over the draft of qualitystandards for cement prepared by the government.

Though the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) hasprepared a draft of the quality standards for cement allowing domestic cementmanufacturers five per cent magnesium oxide (MGO) in 43-grade and 53-gradecement, manufacturers are seeking up to six per cent MGO use in both grades ofcement.

Cement manufactures have been saying that the government shouldallow six per cent MGO use in 43-grade and 53-grade cement citing that othernations like India have been allowing MGO volume to this extent in cement.

“We have only asked the government to make a draft of the qualitystandards as per international standards, which allows six per cent MGO in43-grade and 53-grade cement,” said a cement manufacturer seeking anonymity.

However, BishwoBabuPudasaini, director general of the NBSM, saidthat the government is not in a position to increase the MGO use in cementciting that excessive use of MGO affects the quality of cement.

“The context of the Nepali cement industry is different than inother countries. The quality standards have been set as per domestic context,”he stated.

Citing that MGO often has the quality to expand, Pudasaini saidthat higher use of MGO can affect the physical structure of a building in thelong run.

However, Pudasaini is optimistic that the issue will be resolvedsoon and the government will start providing quality certification to Nepalicement brands.

The government earlier planned to start issuing qualitycertification and effective grading to Nepali cement brands after domesticcement brands found it difficult to compete with Indian cement brands. As bigprojects seek quality certification of cement, such projects have been usingIndian cement brands as Nepali cement brands lack internationally acclaimedquality certification system.